“Cool,” Ryan said.“Be our guest.”
We said our goodbyes—casual, appropriate, nothing that would linger in anyone’s memory.
Outside, the December air was a shock, biting through my jacket and turning our breath into white plumes.The noise of the bar faded behind us.We walked in silence, maintaining a respectable distance until the shadows of Stony Creek Hall rose in the distance.
Only then, when we hit the blind spot beneath the old oak tree, did Luke’s hand find mine in the dark.His fingers laced through mine, warm and rough.
“That was fun.We had a good night,” he said, his voice dropping to that low register reserved for the dorm room.
“Acceptable night,” I corrected.“We could have performed better.Without Maya, we would have been far below average.”
He pulled me into the deeper shadow of the trunk, cutting off my analysis.
“Shut up about the math,” he murmured, and kissed me until I forgot about the statistics entirely.
Friday brought the question I’d been avoiding.
“Christmas break,” Luke said, tossing clothes into a duffel.“What’s your plan?”
I was at my desk, organizing notes for a January syllabus I didn’t need to review yet.“Stay here.Catch up on reading.The dining hall runs a reduced schedule, but there’s a microwave in the basement.”
He paused mid-fold.“You’re staying on campus.Alone.For three weeks.”
“It’s cost-effective.”
“It’s depressing.”
“I don’t celebrate Christmas.The isolation is irrelevant.”
He set down the duffel.Walked over.Sat on the edge of my desk, close enough that his knee pressed against my arm.
“Austen.”
“The room is already paid.A plane ticket to anywhere else would be—”
“I’m not asking about logistics.”His voice was soft.“I’m asking if you’re okay.”
I stared at my notes.The words blurred.“I’ve spent holidays alone before.It’s fine.”
“Fine isn’t okay.”
My phone buzzed before I could respond.Maya’s name on the screen.
Maya:Vermont.Christmas.My parents have a guest room.Say yes.
I read it twice.Luke read it over my shoulder.
“Say yes,” he said.
“I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can.”He took the phone from my hand, typed a response, and handed it back.Yes.Thank you.
“That was presumptuous,” I said.
“That was efficient.”He kissed my temple, quick and light.“You deserve an actual holiday.With people.And probably a fireplace.”
“Maya’s family has a fireplace?”
